30 Pakistani children held hostage in Afghanistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Sept. 2, IRNA -- Militants have held 30 Pakistani children hostage in Afghanistan, a senior official said on Friday.
Children from Pakistan’s Bajaur tribal region, who had gone for picnic to celebrate Muslims' festival of ‘Eid’, had mistakenly crossed border into Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, TV channels quoted the official as saying.
It was not clear which group has held them hostage and a jirga or council of tribal elders had been sent to Afghanistan to seek their release, he said.
Members of Pakistani Taliban movement have also now crossed into Afghanistan and officials say that they are launching attacks on Pakistani posts from there bases in the Afghan border regions.
Dawn TV reported that militants had arrived in five vehicles and took the children to unknown destinations.
Pakistan army says that deputy chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan Maulvi Faqir, who belonged to Bajaur, is now operating from Kunar.
A jirga of the main Mamond tribe has been convened to explore ways to rescue the children.
Tribal elders also asked the local administration to step up efforts for the early release of the children.
A regional Khyber TV reported that the hostage children could be used for suicide bombings if the government and tribal elders failed to secure the release of the children.
An official of the tribal region said the authorities have started investigation as to how the children were held hostage.
He said it is not clear as to which group, either Pakistani or Afghan militants or any group, is involved in the kidnapping.
The incident has also raised concern of the parents and they are asking the government and the tribal elders for the safe return of the children.
**1420
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30545471
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